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Korean singer PSY, who is popular for his bizarre image and comic dance routines, is being investigated for alleged spotty service in the special military service program, which is an alternative to joining the army.
If the investigation reveals that PSY failed to faithfully fulfill his duties in the program, prosecutors could seek to annul his service with the Military Manpower Administration. With the MMA approval of the annulment, PSY would have to serve 23 more months of military service.
Prosecutors looking into suspicions about the special military service program on Tuesday seized records from an IT company that PSY worked for as a special agent through November 2005. Prosecutors also asked for a warrant to track the bank accounts of company officials and another warrant to check communications records. They are also planning to personally question PSY soon.
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Singer PSY
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The investigation is focused on whether PSY faithfully fulfilled his duties while performing in about 100 concerts during his service period, and whether PSY was qualified to work with the IT company.
PSY's agency said, "Although it is true that PSY came under investigation last week, there is no problem with PSY's special military service. Because the concerts in the local areas were held after 9 p.m., they didn't affect his duties."
Special military service is a substitute program through which people can fulfill their military service requirements by working in approved companies, for 34 months in the case of regional safeguarding and 26 months in the case of active service.
The approved companies are selected by the Military Manpower Administration with the recommendation of the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Small and Medium Business Administration. Ninety eight percent of the companies are small- or medium-size firms. Some 36,371 people were working at 8,500 approved companies as of last March.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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